Man commits suicide over inability to pay wife’s hospital bill

A 45-year-old unemployed graduate, Tijiro Oghenede in Ozoro community, Isoko North local government area of Delta state has allegedly committed suicide following his inability to his wife’s discharged medical bills.

It was gathered that Tijiro Oghenede was given a bill of N250,000 (approximately $700) for the treatment of his wife who took ill few months ago, a bill said to have rattled him all through the night of Thursday, especially considering his inability to secure a job since he graduated from the University seven years ago.

DSP Aniamaka Andrew, police spokesman in the state who confirmed the incident to DAILY POST in Asaba said Tijiro took his life in the early hours of Sunday after his relations had gone to church, adding that his body was found on the floor of his room with plenty drugs beside him.

He said, ” The body of the Tijiro Oghenede was found on the floor in his room in the early hours of Sunday, the door of his room was forced open.

Family sources said Tijiro had in the past three months before the evil act been threatening to take his life over his inability to secure a job and also feed his wife.

But his younger brother, Earnest Oghenede who spoke to DAILY POST said, “My brother has refused to do farm works, rather unfortunate, he married without a job, he took overdose drugs, and we found his lifeless body on the ground after his room door was forced open”

It was gathered that Tijiro Oghenede had pleaded with the hospital management to allow his wife go home, assuring that he will be paying on installment, but his plea was said to have fallen on deaf ears when one of the doctors told him that the management of the hospital does not run a charitable home, and was allegedly sent out of the hospital premises.

As at the time of filing this report, there was wailing and crying by the diseased relations, and some neighbours who described his death as a taboo and abomination in Isoko community.

Speaking to DAILY POST, elder statesman in the community, Chief Benjamin Agurudu said, “Tijiro cannot be buried without cleansing the community, he committed suicide which is a taboo in Ozoro community, his body will be thrown into the forest if his family failed to do this. It’s painful and unfortunate.”